Kelli O'Hara, Paulo Szot Tapped for Leads in South Pacific

Tony nominee Kelli O'Hara and Brazilian baritone Paulo Szot have been cast as Ensign Nellie Forbush and Emile de Becque in Lincoln Center Theater's forthcoming production of Rodgers & Hammerstein's South Pacific. This first Broadway revival of the Pulitzer Prize-winning musical since its premiere in 1949 will begin performances March 1 at the Vivian Beaumont Theater and open on April 3, directed by Bartlett Sher.

Based on James Michener's Tales of the South Pacific, South Pacific has music by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein and a book by Hammerstein and Joshua Logan. Mary Martin and Ezio Pinza created the roles of Nellie, who falls in love at first sight with the dashing Emile during World War II. Additional casting for Lincoln Center Theater's production will be announced at a later date.

O'Hara received Tony nominations for her starring role in The Pajama Game opposite Harry Connick Jr. and for Lincoln Center Theater's production of The Light in the Piazza, directed by Sher. Her most recent stage appearance was as Eliza Doolittle in the New York Philharmonic's concert production of My Fair Lady. Other Broadway credits include Dracula, Sweet Smell of Success, Follies and Jekyll and Hyde.

Szot is an internationally acclaimed baritone whose previous New York credits include starring roles in New York City Opera productions of L'Elisir d'Amore, Carmen and Le Nozze di Figaro. A finalist in the Luciano Pavarotti Competition in Philadelphia, he made his operatic debut as Figaro in Il Barbiere di Siviglia in his native Sao Paolo before going on to sing lead roles with major opera companies throughout South America, Europe and the United States.

Lincoln Center Theater's South Pacific will have sets by Michael Yeargan, costumes by Catherine Zuber and lighting by Donald Holder, sound by Scott Lehrer and musical direction by Ted Sperling.